Testicular pain originating from lumbar disc degeneration:A case report

BACKGROUND Testicular pain caused by lumbar disease is uncommon in the clinic.Here we reported a case of discogenic low back pain with testicular pain that was successfully cured.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old male patient presented to our department with chronic low back pain.Based on his clinical symptoms,signs and imaging,he was diagnosed with discogenic low back pain.Since conservative treatment for more than half a year did not significantly improve his low back pain,we decided to treat it with intradiscal methylene blue injection.During the course of surgery,we again identified the low back pain as originating from the degenerated lumbar disc by analgesic discography.Interestingly,the patient’s low back pain disappeared along with the testicular pain that had been present for more than 3 mo.After the operation,the patient’s low back pain improved,and the testicular pain did not reappear.CONCLUSION Intradiscal methylene blue injection is a convenient and effective surgical intervention for the treatment of discogenic low back pain.Lumbar disc degeneration may also be a possible clinical cause of testicular pain.Methylene blue injection in the diseased disc improved the low back pain,and the accom-panying testicular pain was successfully managed.

The Artificial Disc Nucleus and Other Strategies for Replacement of the Nucleus Pulposus:Past,Present and Future Designs for an Emerging Surgical Solution

Nucleus Pulposus(NP)Replacement is a developing surgical methodology for the treatment of pathology related to degeneration of intervertebral discs(IVDs).This article provides necessary context regarding the patholo-gies treated with this technology,the biomechanical structure and function of the IVD,and the procedures this technology aims to replace.Primarily,it provides an overview and discussion of commercial and experimental preformed and in situ curing prosthesis designs reported in the scientific literature and summarizes the results of biomechanical and clinical studies evaluating their efficacy.Contextual and updated information on the most recent research into NP replacement with novel hydrogel and tissue engineering(TE)strategies is described.Replacement of the NP allows for potential improvement in the treatment of degenerative spinal pathologies through minimally invasive surgical techniques.